Borderland Noise

The second installment of Borderland Noisefest landed at La Caja Fuerte, a newer venue in the art and culture passageway of Pasaje Rodriguez, Tijuana. Featuring bands and projects from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Tijuana, such as Apisdafry, Pure Shit, and Aloha Taylor (project changes names each show to a different TV meteoroligist).

Local closing act Ghost Magnet Roach Motel took home the trophy for Noisiest of Them All. Shinpei Takeda, a film maker/installation artist from Japan, seemed to lead the band in their improvisational “punkformance.” Dressed in a white jump suit to match his white made-up face, he shouted at his bandmates with a megaphone, blew a whistle, and thrashed at a guitar with broken strings.

Antonio Cozano and Brian Sueda (from San Diego) were inside Caja Fuerte playing random bass notes and military style drumming, while Daniel Ruanova and Julio Orozco (Tijuana locals), approached from either end of the Pasaje on triangular platforms that held speakers and all their gadgets. They slowly merged into the venue, blasting noise at what should be illegal decibels. The platforms, with a frenzied crowd following behind, entered Caja Fuerte and continued the noise at punishing levels.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a child no older than three years old dancing, and I thought to myself, She shouldn't be here…and neither should I.

• Concert: Borderland Noisefest
• Date: June 19
• Venue: La Caja Fuerte
• Seats: No